Ladder bracket



Sept. 4, 1934 H. o. WEISGRABER 1,972,211

LADDER BRACKET Filed Aug. 18, 1933 Harold 0. Wisyraber Patented Sept. 4, 1934 LADDERBRACKET Harold' Weisgraber, Norwich, Conn. i ,Appiiaupn' August 1s, 1933, serial No. 685,718 4 claims. y(ci. 304-34)` This invention -relates'to a ladder bracket for mounting a platform on a pair of `'spaced' ladders to form a scaffolding for painting or doing other work on the side of a building. Y

`Various structures havefbeenr previously devised for this purpose and have consisted generally'of a horizontal arm havinga means at one end enabling it to be hooked onto one rung of the ladder, and of an inclined arm secured at its lower end to the free end of the horizontal arm and'at its upper end to the one of the higher `rung's of the ladder. The -platformis then supported upon the horizontal arm. However, it 'is desirable in many cases to provide a ladder bracket which may be mounted either on the upper or the lower side of a ladder. Previously-devised structures have been designed for use eitheron the `upper side only or on the lower side only, and kwhenv placed on the opposite sidefor which they `were intended they have been foundf not to function efiiciently.

When a device of thislcharacter is Amounted .on the lower side of a ladder, a relatively short inclined arm is necessary, Sand this. arm will extend upwardly in 'a relatively upright position, whereas -when the -V -devicewis mounted: on the upper 'side of the ladder a -much longer arm is required, and assuming that' both. arms are straight, the sharp inclination ofthe'v inclined -arm with respect to the horizontal arm will servento greatly limit the space provided for'reception of the platform on the horizontal arm and between the two arms. `The general resultl as will be appreciated will be similar to the closing. of a vpair of shears upon the platform. L

It is therefore the object of? this invention t provide a device of this type vwhich may be mount-i ed'on the lower side of a ladder, and whichy may be shifted to the upper side of the'vladder and mounted thereon in such a manner as not to .un`

duly limit the space provided for the reception of the platform. Itis an object also to provide an attachment which may be made a part of the ladder bracket in mounting it on the upper side of the ladder, said attachment being adapted to form an extension for the inclined member to provide the additionallength required, and at the same time to so position the inclined member that it will not interfere with the proper positioning of the platform on the horizontal member. v

With the above and other objects inrview this invention consists of certain parts and combinations one embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and the'. accompanying drawing.

VIn the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a view partly in section illustrating an embodimentof the invention for suspension, o

the underside'of aladder.v

. Figure 2 is a-view similar to Figure lillustrating another embodiment of the invention and of the type for suspension on the upper side of a ladder. Figure 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3--I3 of Figure 1. f

Figure 4 is a perspective View illustrating the eX- tens'ion member forming an element of that embodiment ofthe invention shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5is a .perspective view illustrating the form of inclined arm or hanger element employed in both .embodiments of the invention.

` Figure 6 is a view illustrating theform of horizontal varm or supporting element employed in both embodiments of the invention for supporting the platform or scaffold.

Figure 7 is aplan vievv illustrating a device for extendin'gbetween the ladder 'rand the structure against'which it issupported for preventing the ladder from-slipping while the ladder bracket of this invention is in use thereon. Referring first to Figure 1- of the drawing there is shown a ladder :having side members land rungs 2, the side'members 1 being disposed at an inclination with -respect to the vertical inY the manner customary when a ladder is placed against a building or other support.

The embodiment of theinvention as shown in Figure l-is for the purpose of supporting a scaffold 3 from lthe underside ofladder 1, and such embodiment comprises a supporting element or horizontal arm'and a hanger element or inclined arm. The embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 2 isfor the purpose Yof supporting the scaffo1d/3from the upper side ofthe ladder and such embodiment comprises a supporting element or horizontal arm, ahanger element or inclined arm and an extension elementA or member. In both 'Jet embodiments of the invention'the supporting elements are of like construction, and the hanger elements also are of like construction. Like reference characters are employed for the supporting elementsand for the hanger elements of both embodiments of the invention.y` f

The supporting element or ,horizontal arm of each embodiment is generally indicated at 4 and comprises a head and a stem. The latter being integral at one end with one side of the head centrally of the latter. The head includes -a solid oblong Vcentral part V5 having each of its ends provided Vwith a lateral extension 6. Oppositely disposedelbow fittings 7 are mounted on and project from the extensions 6. Each elbow 7 includes a horizontal and a vertical portion. The latter being extended upwardly from the outer end of the horizontal portion. Mounted in the vertical portions of the elbows '7 are upstanding hooks 8 of central part 5 and at its other end into one end., of stretch 10. The height of stretch 4 is less than4 and has its top face positioned below the tops of part 5 and stretch 10 wherebythere will-bepro- Cil vided at the ends of stretch vil abutments 10 to arrest the shifting of the platform or scaffold 3 upon the supporting element 4. The vstretchglljis in the form of an oval-shaped loop to provide a vertical opening 11 in the` stem of element-4. The sides of)y the loop formed by stretch lo'areformed with transversely disposed aligning openings 12'. The hangerelement' or inclined arm of each embodiment of the invention is generally indicated at 13 and comprises a shank terminating: at one end into al hook 14 adapted to engage with an upper. rung of the ladder 1. The shank' is formed of a pair of stretches 13',l 15. The stretch. 13 merges at one end into the hook 14A and at its other end merges intoith'eiinner'endof stretchil;Y The side faces. ofl stretch 13 are disposed at right angles` to the side facesnf the stretch '15... v,The latter is of less'thicknessfthan that of stretch 13- and is formed with a row of spaced openings 16 extendingllengthwi'se thereof. Y Each supporting element or horizontal arm,Y 4 carries a chain 18 to whicliis connected ra securing pin 1'7.y for a purpose to be'referredto. Y

When the embodiment ofthe invention as shown in Figure 1 is employed for supporting or suspendingY the scaffold or platform 3 on the underside of the ladder, the hooks `8 of the supporting element are-detachably connected to Ia. lower' rung ofthe ladder and such element isto extend rearwardly with vrespect to the ladder. The .hanger element is to have its' hook positioned in engagement with anv upper rung 4of the ladder. The looped stretch of the supportingielement is then positioned to overlap the stretch 15 of. the hanger element in a manner whereby theopenings 12will align with an opening 16. The securing pin 17 is then extended through the aligning openings 12, 16, whereby the parts will appearv asf shownI in Figure 1 with the platform or scaffold 3 mounted in stretch 4 betweentheabutments 10'.

The extension element or memberA generally indicated at 19 forms a part of the embodiment-of the invention asy illustrated by Figure 2 and it comprisesa curved solid inner .stretch 19 merging into oppositely inclined upper'and lower stretches 19", Zirespectivelyl The stretch 19" is bifurcated and the arms 20 formed' by the furcation are provided with aligning openings 21. :The stretch 24 is of greater length than stretch19 and .is formed with arow of spaced openings 25 extending lengthwise thereof.

When the embodiment of the invention las` shown inuFig-ure 2 is employed for supporting or suspending the scaffold or platform 3 from the upper or front side of the ladder', the hooks 8 of the supporting element are detachably connected to a lower rung of the ladder' and said element is to extend forwardly from theladder. The hanger element is tov have its hookfpos'itioned inlengagement with an upper rung of the ladder. The bifurcated stretch 19" of element 19 is then positioned upon the stretch 15 of element 13 in a manner whereby one or more of the openings 21 will align with one or more of the openings 16. The stretch 19" is then rigidly but removably secured to thestretch 15 by bolts 22 having wing nuts 23. The stretch 24 of element 19 is then extended into the looped endofrelement 4in a manner to align one of the openings 25 inl stretch 24 with the openings 12 and the securing pin 17 extended through the aligning openings 12 and 25 whereby the parts will appear as shown in Figure 2,-and the platform or scaffold supported by the stretch 4 between the 'abutments 10.

Y With referenceto Figure 2, it will be seen that when the supportingl element or horizontal arm, and the hangerelernent or inclined arm are placed ontheupper side of the ladder, the hanger element is of insufficient length to enable it to be secured to the looped4 outer` enduofI lthe supporting element, and even; extendedso that it will .have sufficient length, it would be inclined with respect to the supporting element at such-an angle that it'wouldinterfere with the platformbr scaffold 3. -.c

This difficulty is overcomeby the curved extension element or member 19 asarranged in themanner shown inA Figure 2; and whenso arranged the upper portion of the extension element ismaintained entirely clear of the platform or scaifold 3,

Whether the device-,ismounted on the under side Oron; the upper. side of the ladder,y it willv loeY seen that the spaced hooks 8y willvserve to positively prevent: theY horizontal arm 4 from, tilting, and that the fact'thatthese hooks extend upwardlyV will enable :the weight :exerted upon them tdbe exerted in a direct linebelow the rung Orl-Whh theyare'hooked.--A y. 1 l f 4For the purpose of preventing vtheladder from slippingvwhenftheabove `described device isinyuSe, there is provided a bracing tie; consisting of `rigid telescoping members 26, and 27 respectively which may beadjustably; positionedfwithrespect to each otherv by means-of-a-collar 28 ,and a set-screw29.

These members arez eachprovided attheirffree ends with aho'ols numbered 30 and 31 respectively, one of these hooks hing, adapted to engage a rung of the ladder andthe -otherof the hooks being adapted to engage a ringsecured tothe side of the structure againstgwhichtheladder is supported. `It will beseen thattherehas been described and shown ameans for carry-ing outl all of the objects of this invention in a practical, eicientand satisfactory manner, but it is to be distinctly understood that the same is .by way of illustration and example only and thatvarious changes in the construction and arrangement ofv parts may be made without departing from Vthe, spirit or scope of this invention assetfforth in the appended claims.

WhatI claim is:-- 1. VAladder `bracket comprising a horizontally disposed supporting element provided with means intermediate its ends for rsupporting a scaffold, means adjacent eachof its ends for arresting the shifting ofthe scaiold thereon-lvertica1'means extending upwardly from its inner end .for detachably suspending such end from a lower` rung ofthe ladder. and means to provide a loopedv outer end, a hanger element having means at one end for. detachably connecting it to a rung of the Fifi Mil

the looped end of the supporting element whereby said looped end is suspended and the supporting element held in horizontal position.

2. A ladder bracket comprising a horizontal] disposed supporting element provided with means intermediate its ends for supporting a scaffold, means adjacent each of its ends for arresting the shifting of the scaffold thereon, vertical means extending upwardly from its inner end for detachably suspending such end from a lower rung of the ladder and means to provide a looped outer end, a hanger element having means at one end for detachably connecting it to a rung of the ladder above the said lower rung, an extension element having a curved inner stretch and oppositely inclined upper and lower stretches, said upper stretch being bifurcated and having the lower end of said hanger element extended therein, said lower stretch extending into said looped end, means for securing the upper stretch `to said hanger element, and means for securing said lower stretch to said looped end whereby said supporting element is held in horizontal position.

3. In a ladder bracket of that type including a horizontally disposed platform or scaffoldV supporting element adapted to have one end thereof coupled with an upper rung of the ladder and its other end directly connected with a lower rung of the ladder, said element comprising a head and a stem, said head formed of a central solid oblong part having each of its ends provided with an extension, elbows mounted on and projecting laterally from said extensions and upstanding hooks at the outer ends of the elbows for detachable direct connection with the lower rung of the ladder, and said stem formed of a pair of stretches, one being solid and merging at one end into one side of said part and at its other end into one end of said other stretch, the said other stretch being of looped form to provide an oblong vertically disposed opening, that stretch of looped form being for receiving a means for connecting the other end of said element with the upper rung of the ladder and having the side walls of said opening formed with aligning apertures for the passage of a holdfast device to couple said means to the said stem.

4. In a ladder bracket of that type including a horizontally disposed platform or scaffold supporting element adapted to have one end thereof coupled with an upper rung of the ladder and its other end directly connected with a lower rung of the ladder, said element comprising a head and a stem, said head formed of a central solid oblong part having each of its ends provided with an extension, elbows mounted on and projecting laterally from said extensions and upstanding hooks at the outer ends of the elbows for detachable direct connection with the lower rung of the ladder, said stern formed of a pair of stretches, one being solid and merging' at one end into one side of said part and at its other end into one end of said other stretch, the said other stretch being of looped form to provide an oblong vertically disposed opening, that stretch of looped form being for receiving a means for connecting the outer end of said element with the upper rung of the ladder and having the side walls of said opening formed with aligning apertures for the passage of a holdfast device to couple said means to the said stern, the said solid stretch being for supporting the platform or scaffold, and said looped stretch and central part being extended above said solid stretch to provide abutments at the ends of the ladder.

HAROLD O. WEISGRABER. 

